Headlight.



HEADLIGELT:

NLIGATIUN FILED MAY 21. 1909.

antec?. July 12, w16.

541 15211 lo L slipped down between intron CHARLES JOSEPH FEIKER, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN.

HEADLIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 12 1910.A

Application filed May 21, 1909. Serial No. 497,472.

To all whom, 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES JOSEPH Finnen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine and State of llVisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Headlights, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to headlights for railway and street cars, automobiles and other like vehicles, and its uobject is to provide an improved construction of headlight which will turn with the front wheels of the vehicle and direct the rays of light upon the track or in the direction of movement of the front wheels, whether the car, is moving in a straight line or rounding a curve.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts` hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of` the front portion of an automobile frame, showing the application of the invention to a vehicle of this type. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the front axle of the vehicle and the coacting parts of the headlight. controlling mechanism.

Referring to the drawing, 2li designates the forward portion of the frame or chassis of an automobile, and 25 the front or steering axle thereof, which latter is provided at. each end with a pivoted knuckle 26 having a spindle 2T extending therefrom and on which the associated 'fronti steering wheel 2S is mounted. The headlight 29, which may be of thel type commonly enployed upon vehicles ot this character, is provided at cath side with a loop El() to allow it to be and upon the arms of a forked bracket, 31 mounted upon the up per end of a rock shaft 2l', having an angular lower end 33. The said angular lower end 233 lits within an angular socket 254. upon the forward end of a crank arm 35, which latter is provided with a depending portion or link plate 3G having an elongated vertical slot 37.

The shaft 32 is journaled in a. bearing 38 on the frame 24 and is provided at its uncture with the base of the bracket 3l with a shoulder 39, between which and the upper surface of the frame portion 24 is arranged a Washer el() forming an anti-rattling support at this point. The lower end of the shaft projects below the frame and is in-` i t t i f. a

closed by a coiled cushioning spring il disposed between the same and the bottom 0fthe bearing 38 and operating in conjunction with the washer to permit the shaft to have a sullicient absorb vibration and prevent rattling of the parts.

The knuckles 26 of the two front steering wheels of the vehicle 'are pivo'tally connected in the customary manner by a rod l2, and to this rod is connected the rear end of a crank arm or rod 43, having a bifurcated or clip portion Llet at its rear end engaging said rod 42 and carrying at its forward end an anti` friction sleeve orroller l5 which tits within the slot 37 of the link plate 3G of the 'connecting or crank arm From. the foregoing description, it will be seen that the shaft 32 is mounted upon the frame for movement in either direction laterally of the vehicle, and that the rod or crank arm i3 is shiftable laterally by the rod l2 when the latter is moved in one direction or the other to turn the steering wheels 2b. As the rod 43 is swung in one direction or the other, its forward end-turns the crankarm 35 and thus oscillates the shaft 32'to turn the headlight 29 in the same direction as the wheels. The slot 37 permits the forward end of the arm 43 to have independent vertical play therein to compensate for the cushioning action of the wheels and springs of 'the ruiming gear without throwing strain upon the other parts of the headlight. l't will be apparent that the' headlight 2t) will be turned as thc wheelsl are turned to direct the rays of light therefrom in the direction of motion of said wheels at all times in the ruiming of the vehicle.

llaving thus fully described the invention` what is claimed as new, is:-

l. ln a lamp for vehicles, the combination with a frame, an axle, steering wheels pivoted to 'the axle, anda transverse rod pivotally connecting said wheels, of a bearingupon the frame, a vertical rock sha-ft journaled in said bearing, a lamp mounted upon the upper end of said shaft, a crank arm on the lower end of the shaft provided with a downturned slotted link, a cushioning spring surrounding the shaft between the bearing and crank arm, and an operating rod coupled at one end to said connecting rod and provided at its free end with afriction roller engaging said slottedlink.

amount of yielding motion to 2 eea/n 2. In a lamp for vehicles, the combination with a frame, an axle, steering' wheels pivoted to 'the axle, and ay transverse rod pivotally Connecting said wheels, of a bearing upon the frame, a vertical rock shaft having a shoulder resting thereon, said shaft being provided with an upwardly extending lamp support and an angular lower end a lamp mounted upon said Support, a crank arm engaging the angular' end oi the shaft and extending rearwardly therefrom and provided with a downturned link having a longitudinal slot therein, a cushioning I spring surrounding the shaft between the bearing and 'the rod coupled at one end to said connecting rod7 and a friction roller at the free end `of said operating rod .engaging the Slot in the link.

crank arm, an operating 15 ln testimony whereof I afiix my signature 2 0 in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES JOSEPH FElKlGh.

Witnesses GEORGE V. MORRIS, S. E. CRAIG. 

